By Tyler Olsen - Vernon Morning Star - April 25, 2008
A case of beer, trip to the movie theatre or half-tank of gas – thanks to a tax cut, the average Spallumcheen resident will have some decisions to make with an extra $32. The township has cut municipal taxes to the tune of four per cent on an average assessed home, meaning residents of the average Spallumcheen home or farm valued at nearly $257,000, up 13 per cent from last year, will pay $32 less municipal tax. Property owners who saw the assessed value of their home remain the same will pay 15 per cent less. “We were able to lower the mill rate substantially all the way across,” said Mayor Will Hansma. Despite the rate cut, the township will collect nearly four per cent more in taxes in 2008 and nearly two per cent more from residents. Hansma attributed the decrease to recent development.
It was “because of the growth that we had. We were able to pass some of that new growth savings back to the homeowners,” he said Tax rates decreased across the board but increased assessments will see the township increase revenue substantially from major industry (nearly $67,000), light industry (almost $22,000), and residential properties (about $30,000). “As long as we achieve a balance and we still offer the same level of services, then we can pass those savings onto the ratepayers and bring those taxes down,” said Hansma. “We haven’t changed the way we do things. We’re still doing everything the same way.” In total, the Township of Spallumcheen will bring in $3,299,297 in tax revenue in 2008, up from $3,197,785 last year. Total property assessments in the township rose more than 20 per cent, to $794,308,976. Farm assessments, however, dropped by $30,000.
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Don Quixote Note: If Spall can do it why Can't Vernon ?
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